Supporting clip



Oct. 26, 1954 H. P. THOMAS SUPPORTING CLIP Filed Aug. V(5. 1948 IN VEN TOR.

@Trae/Vey.

Patented Oct. 26, 1954 SUPPORTING `CLIP Howard l. Thomas, North Hollywood, Calif., as-

`signor to Thomas Associates, Los Angeles.,

FGaliLya partnership .Application August 6 1948, SeriallNo. 42,952

6 Claims. 1

This invention relatesl Ato a supporting clip or hanger; more particularly, it relates to such a `clip especially adapted for .use with a. group or bundle of electric Wires,

It is known to provide a clip comprising a metal band or strap in the form of a loopl `adapted to encompass a group of wires, or a conduit, and having tangential end portions, the outer end part of one of said portions being bent 'to form an ear adapted to overlie and be secured to the outer end of the other portion with the Vclip embracing the Wires. The means securing the end `parts together also serves to attach the `clip to a suitable support, so that the wires or conduit are supported thereby. A resilient cushioning lining is provided in the loop to protect the wires or conduit from direct Contact and abrasion by the band, which lining terminates substantially at the overlying end parts, thus 'leaving these parts exposed.

It is anobject of this invention to provide an improved clip of this character.

It is another object of this invention to provide a clip of this character having an improved lining to more effectively hold the Wires or conduit.

With a clip formed as described, the group of Wires or conduit is not gripped eiiectiveli7 for its entire periphery, the clip when tightened tending to distort the bundle or conduit from circular due to the space between the straight portions of the loop. `It is accordingly another object of this invention to provide a clip arranged to reduce such distortion when. tightened.

Another difficulty with clips of this typeis that the end portions of the cushioning lining sometimes fail to meet when the clip is tightened, or if they do meet, the abutting surfaces are of such small area and/or engage with such light pressure, that one or more wires of the bundle may be forced between the ends of the lining. This makes longitudinal adjustment of the wire or wires diiiicult and isliable to damage the insulation, possibly shorting or grounding the wire.

lt is accordingly another object of this invention to provide a clip wherein means are provided to prevent Ventry of -a wire between ,abutting ends or the lining when the clip. is tightened.

It is another object of this invention to provide a clip wherein the cushioning lining is `arranged to insure tight contact bet-Ween the abutting ends thereof when the clip is tightened.

It is still another object of this invention to provide cushioning and insulatinglining `for-:clips of the type under discussion `which willfprevent exposure of the band or @strap when clamped to form a loop.

This invention vpossesses many other advantages and has other objects which may be made more easily apparent from a consideration of several embodiments of the invention. For this purpose there are shown -two forms in; the drawn ings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. These forms `will now be described in detail, illustrating the lgeneral prinfciples of the invention; but it is to vbe understood that this detailed description is not `to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the Vinvention is best defined by the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a clip incorporating the features of the invention in use;

Figure 2 is an end elevation of `the clip4 as installed in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end elevation ofthe clipI of IFigure 1 before installation;

Figure 4 is a cross section taken substantiali7 as indicated'by line 44 of vFigure 3; and

Figure 5 is an elevation similar to Figure 3 but showing a modified form of the invention.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, the clip comprises-a band 6 of bendable material, such for example as an aluminum alloy of suitable characteristics and gauge, which is bent `to form a loop l having an intermediate arcuate portion VF-a with straight portions l-b and 'l-c extendingtangentially from the opposite ends thereof. One of these straight portions, for example 1b,is bent outwardly at 90 intermediate its ends to provide an ear 8 adapted to overle the outer part il of the other portion l-c and to be secured thereto as by a bolt or screw 'i il lextending through `suitable apervtures in the overlying parts. The bolt li! also Vwires or other elements embraced bythe clip,

as well as to enable a good frictional grip thereof, the inner surface of the loop 'l is provided with a resilient lining or cushion I3 of natural or synvthetic rubber for example. Thisfcushion AI3 may `be' formed as a channel shaped member i4 having a space l4-a. for accommodating the strap 6 and inturned opposite edge portions or flanges Ill-la for engaging the `outer `surface thereof. The resilience ofthe member i4 is such 4that the Lmember may be readily deformed for `placement.

on the loop l, Vand:is-frictionallyretained against `movement thereon.

Themember I4 -is preferably of such length and so placed ,on the ,Joop `Ip `that `opposite end portions are in abutting relation when the loop 'I is secured in closed supporting position. Thus, those wires I2 adjacent the overlying ears 8 and 9. are protected from contact with the strap or band 6.

To provide a tight contact between the abutting end portions of the member I4 when the clip is tightened, without the need of accurately forming and placing the member I 4, a ller `block I5 is formed on one end of the member I4, and is adapted to engage the opposite end portion of the member I4 when the loop 'I is closed. The filler block I5 is of generally triangular form, that surface I5-w thereof adapted to face the inside of the loop being slightly concave and adapted to extend between the tangential portions 'I-b and 'I-c.

The apex I5-b= of the block I5 forms a transversely extending portion adapted to engage and slightly depress the opposite end portion of the member I4 when the clip is tightened, as clearly shown in Figure 2. For this purpose, the block I5 is so proportioned that the portion I5-b pro- J'ects slightly beyond that end of the member Ill to lwhich the block I5 is attached. Thus, for example, the outer surface I5c ofthe triangular block I5 may stand at an obtuse angle with respe-ct to said end of the member I4.

The block I 5 may be formed of the same material as the member I4' and integrally therewith, or suitably attached thereto, or it may be formed of different material, such as natural or artificial rubber of a harder grade than the member I4.

The material of the strap 5 is sufficiently yielding to permit the loop 'I to be bent open to receive the wires or other elements to be supported as shown for example in Figure 3, after which the loop 1 is bent to the closed position of Figure 2. A

It will be apparent that a block such as I5, will serve its purpose equally well on either end of the member I4. Thus, in Figure 3 it is shown as adjacent the ear 8; in Figure 5 a corresponding block I6 is shown as adjacent the other end. In either case, the block I5 or I5 will engage the opposite end of the lining I3 when the loop I is closed, and provide a closed loop with an inclined surface extending between the tangential portions thereof.

I claim:

1. A supporting clip comprising a band formed into a loop adapted to be secured to a support at both overlying ends of said band, one end of said band being bent away from said band to form an ear, a cushion lining overlying the inner surface of said loop, which lining is thickened at one end to form a triangular portion having its outer side in line 'with the opposite inner end of the cushion lining, said outer side being so constructed and arranged that the outer side of said triangular portion is deflected to conform to the opposite inner surface of said cushion liner.

2. In a supporting clip; a band forming a loop; one end of said band adapted to be secured upon a support; an ear on said band movable to a position to be secured in overlying relation to said one end; a cushion lining on the inner surface of said loop; and a ller block of cushioning material substantially equal in width to that of said lining mounted on said band adjacent said ear; said block having an inner surface facing said loop; said block having an outer surface disposed to be deflected to conform to the inner surface of said lining adjacent the other end of said lining when said ear is secured in overlying relation to said one end of the band.

3. In a supporting clip for a group of wires; a band forming a loop; one end of said band adapted to be secured upon a support; an ear on said band movable to a position to be secured in overlying relation to said one end; a cushion lining the interior of said loop; and a cushion block on said band adjacent said ear; said block having a flexible end portion substantially equal in width to that of the loop; said flexible end portion being disposed to ex against said cushion at a point spaced inwardly from an end of the cushion to close said loopbefore said ear is positioned to be secured in `overlying relation to said one end of said band.

4. In a clip for supporting a bundle of wires; means providing a loop having one end adapted to be secured upon a support; an ear formed on the other end of said loop and being spaced from said one end when said loop is open; said ear being movable to a position overlying said one end to close said loop; a terminating thickened end portion on the inner surface of said loop disposed on one side thereof adjacent the juncture of said loop with said ear, said end portion projecting outwardly away from said ear to overlap the opposite end of said loop providing means when formed into a loop, the outer end surface of said thickened end portion bearing' against the opposite end of said loop providing means when formed into a loop.

5. In a clip for supporting a bundle of wires, means providing a loop having one end adapted to be secured upon a support; an ear formed on the other end of said loop and being spaced from said one end when said loop is open; said ear being movable to a position overlying said one end to close said loop; a terminating thickened end portion on the inner surface of said loop disposed on one side thereof adjacent the juncture of said loop with said ear, said end portion being flexible and having surfaces converging in a direction toward said end portion and projecting outwardly away from said ear to overlap the opposite end of said loop providing means when formed into a loop, the outer end surface of said thickened end portion bearing against the opposite end of said loop providing meansk when formed into a loop.

6. A supporting clip comprising a band formed into a loop adapted to be secured to a support at both overlying ends of said band, one end of said band being bent away from said band to form an ear, a cushion lining overlying the inner surface of said loop, which lining has a portion on the end thereof adjacent said ear providing inner and outer surfaces substantially equal in width to that of the lining; said inner and outer surfaces of said portion extending convergently outward from the adjacent inner surface of the lining to form a flexible end portion disposed to be flexed against the opposite inner surface of the lining to bring said outer surface into contact with said opposite inner surface of said lining.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Nam-e Date 470,698 Murdock Mar. 15, 1892 2,340,713 Tinnerman Feb. 1, 1944 2,359,209 Ellinwood Sept. 26, 1944 2,366,041 Morehouse Dec. 26, 1944 2,408,572 Morehouse Oct. 1, 1946 2,455,028 Tinnerman Nov. 30, 1948 2,455,598 Michalenko Dec. 7, 1948 

